'Pup Perfumes' Soothe Fido

Trained hounds in high demand as infestations rise

(NEWSER) - The resurgence of an old pest has created new jobs for dogs. Bedbug infestations have soared in American cities over the last four years, creating boom times for exterminators, especially those using canny canines trained to detect the tiny suckers. Handlers say the dogs can expertly sniff out infestations and work their way through buildings a lot faster than exterminators looking for visual traces of the bloodsuckers. More»

'Psychiatric service' pooches respond to PTSD sufferers' needs

(NEWSER) - The golden retriever nuzzles his master as though he wants a treat, trots into the kitchen, and waits patiently. His master walks over and, under the pet’s watchful gaze, takes a series of pills. The dog wags his tail with approval. He is a psychiatric-service dog, part of a new generation of service animals designed to help those with mental illness—including, most recently, Iraq and Afghan war veterans with PTSD, reports the Wall Street Journal. More»

(NEWSER) - Dog owners who try to tame their pets by acting aggressive themselves will only make matters worse, LiveScience reports. A new study in Applied Animal Behavior Science presents sobering news for advocates of tough love. Those who hit, kick, growl at, or confront their dogs in similar ways are more likely to have pets that act in kind. Instead of raising their hand, owners should try offering more exercise, or maybe a treat, when training. More»

Moroccan bazaar scent says you tidied up ... even if you barely did

(NEWSER) - Makers of household products are constantly working to redefine the smell of clean, the Wall Street Journal reports, even as Americans are spending 40% less time actually tidying up than they did 40 years ago. One of the newest is Procter & Gamble’s Moroccan Bazaar, a ginger-edged scent for those wishing to add a hint of bustling Marrakesh market to freshly scrubbed homes. More»

Marley & Me is 'toxic hazard,' critics charge

(NEWSER) - The most popular movie in the country has an enemy at the Los Angeles Times. TV critic Scott Collins says Marley & Me "represents a toxic hazard to dog owners as well as anyone who ever comes near a dog—basically everyone, in other words." Collins reminds readers and fellow fans of "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan that "there are no bad dogs, only bad owners." More»